-
Question 1
Incorrect
-
Which of the following stimuli increase growth hormone secretion?
Your Answer: Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)
Correct Answer: Ghrelin
Explanation:Ghrelin is a hormone which serves as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It acts on the pituitary and the hypothalamus by affecting the vagus nerve. It acts on the somatotrophs of the anterior pituitary, GHRH-secreting neurons, and on GHIH-secreting neurons in the hypothalamus, causing a time-dependent and pulsatile stimulation over the secretion of growth hormone.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
-
-
Question 2
Incorrect
-
In the cardiac cycle, all of the following are true except:
Your Answer: The left ventricular volume is maximal at the end of atrial systole
Correct Answer: Mitral valve is closed by contraction of papillary muscles
Explanation:Mitral valve is closed by contraction of papillary muscles: This statement is incorrect. The mitral valve closes due to the pressure difference between the left ventricle and the left atrium at the onset of ventricular systole. The papillary muscles contract to prevent prolapse of the valve into the atrium but do not cause the valve to close.
The left ventricular volume is maximal at the end of atrial systole: This statement is true. At the end of atrial systole, the atria have pushed the remaining blood into the ventricles, making the ventricular volume maximal (end-diastolic volume).
The left ventricular pressure is maximal just before the aortic valve opens: This statement is true. Left ventricular pressure peaks just before the aortic valve opens, as the ventricle contracts to overcome the pressure in the aorta.
The ejection fraction is about 55%: This statement is true. The ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood ejected from the ventricles with each contraction, is typically around 55%.
The ‘a’ wave is due to atrial systole: This statement is true. The ‘a’ wave on the venous pressure curve corresponds to atrial systole, reflecting the increased pressure from atrial contraction.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 3
Incorrect
-
Normally the portal venous pressure is about:
Your Answer: 15mmhg
Correct Answer: 5mmhg
Explanation:Under normal physiological conditions, the pressure in the portal vein, which carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver, typically ranges around 5-10 mmHg. Pressures significantly higher than this range can indicate portal hypertension, which can be associated with liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
-
-
Question 4
Correct
-
Bile salts are responsible for:
Your Answer: The emulsification of fats
Explanation:The main function of bile acids is to allow digestion of dietary fats and oils by acting as a surfactant that emulsifies them into micelles, allowing them to be colloidally suspended in the chyme before further processing.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Hepatobiliary
- Medicine
-
-
Question 5
Correct
-
Most of the venous blood returns to the heart through the:
Your Answer: Coronary sinus and anterior cardiac veins
Explanation:Most of the venous blood returns to the heart via the coronary sinus and the anterior cardiac veins which drain into the right atrium.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 6
Correct
-
All of the following are Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors except:
Your Answer: Factor XI
Explanation:Activated Vitamin K is used to gamma carboxylate (and thus activate) certain enzymes involved in coagulation: Factors II, VII, IX, X, and protein C and protein S. Inability to activate the clotting cascade via these factors leads to the bleeding symptoms
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
-
-
Question 7
Incorrect
-
Which of the following conditions results from chromosomal ‘non-disjunction’?
Your Answer: Down syndrome
Correct Answer: All of the options
Explanation:Non-disjunction can result in aneuploidy i.e. abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell. It results due to uneven division of chromosomes in the meiosis 1 or 2 phase. All the above mentioned examples are of non-disjunction.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Genetics
- Medicine
-
-
Question 8
Incorrect
-
Glucose transport in the brain is mediated by:
Your Answer: GLUT 3
Correct Answer: GLUT 1
Explanation:The facilitative glucose transporter mediates the transport of glucose from blood into neurons and glia in the brain. The primary isoforms in the brain are GLUT1 detected at high concentrations.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
-
-
Question 9
Incorrect
-
In RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), the DNA fragments are separated by length through a process known as:
Your Answer: Inversion
Correct Answer: Agarose gel electrophoresis
Explanation:Samples of DNA from individuals are broken into pieces by restriction enzymes and the fragments are separated according to their lengths via gel electrophoresis. Although now largely obsolete due to the rise of inexpensive DNA sequencing technologies, RFLP analysis was the first DNA profiling technique inexpensive enough to see widespread application.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Genetics
- Medicine
-
-
Question 10
Correct
-
The following are examples of the functions of the vascular endothelium except:
Your Answer: Tumour suppression
Explanation:Vascular endothelium has many important functions including regulation of vascular tone, molecular exchange between blood and tissue compartments, hemostasis and signaling for the immune regulation and inflammation. Depending on specific tissue needs and local stresses, endothelial cells are capable of evoking either antithrombotic or prothrombotic events. Tumor suppression is related to genes, or anti-oncogenes, that regulate a cell during cell division and replication.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 11
Incorrect
-
What is the effect of catecholamines (i.e. increased heart rate) on the pressure volume loop?
Your Answer: Stroke volume is enormous
Correct Answer: Shifts the diastolic pressure curve upward and leftward
Explanation:Catecholamines have a positive ionotropic and chronotropic effect on the heart. The ventricles develop greater tension during systole resulting in an increase in the stroke volume. The increase in stroke volume results in a decrease in the end diastolic volume. This pushes the loop towards the left and upwards.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 12
Correct
-
Bronchial smooth muscle:
Your Answer: Tone is increased by cholinergic discharge
Explanation:The lungs are supplied by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic innervation is supplied by the vagus nerve. The parasympathetic nervous system is the dominant neuronal pathway in the control of airway smooth muscle tone. Stimulation of cholinergic nerves causes bronchoconstriction, mucus secretion, and bronchial vasodilation. Sympathetic innervation is supplied by the T1 to T5 of the spinal cord and act mainly via beta adrenergic receptors. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system causes vasoconstriction and bronchodilation.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Respiratory
-
-
Question 13
Correct
-
Question 14
Correct
-
What is a characteristic findings on ECG in hyperkalaemia?
Your Answer: Tall, tented T waves
Explanation:Hyperkalaemia leads to:
– Prolonged PR interval
– Small P waves
– Tall, tented T waves
– Widened QRS complexes and eventually asystole.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 15
Incorrect
-
The proportion of individuals within a population affected by disease at a specific time point, based on positive testing for serum antibodies is known as:
Your Answer: Prevalence
Correct Answer: Sero-Prevalence
Explanation:In immunology, seroconversion is the time period during which a specific antibody develops and becomes detectable in the blood. After seroconversion has occurred, the disease can be detected in blood tests for the antibody. Sero-prevalence includes individuals who are antibody positive for a specific infection at a specific point in time.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Infectious Diseases
- Medicine
-
-
Question 16
Correct
-
The pyloric sphincter is largely made up of thickening of
Your Answer: The circular muscle layer
Explanation:The pyloric sphincter, or valve, is a strong ring of smooth muscle (circular muscle layer) at the end of the pyloric canal which lets food pass from the stomach to the duodenum. It controls the outflow of gastric contents into the duodenum. It receives sympathetic innervation from the celiac ganglion.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
-
-
Question 17
Correct
-
The premotor cortex is:
Your Answer: Brodmann area 6
Explanation:A Brodmann area in the brain is defined by cytoarchitecture, histology and organization of cells:Primary Sensory 3,1,2Primary Motor 4Premotor 6Primary Visual 17Primary Auditory 41Brocas 44
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
-
-
Question 18
Correct
-
What is the most appropriate management of a DVT during pregnancy?
Your Answer: Heparin
Explanation:Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is safe in pregnancy and is therefore the first line management. Warfarin is teratogenic and must be avoided whilst the other options have no role to play.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Respiratory
-
-
Question 19
Incorrect
-
Which of the following is NOT associated with the development of aortic regurgitation?
Your Answer: Bechet's disease
Correct Answer: Dilated cardiomyopathy
Explanation:Aortic insufficiency, is often due to the aortic root dilation, which is idiopathic in over 80% of cases, but otherwise may result from aging, syphilitic aortitis, osteogenesis imperfecta, aortic dissection, Bechet’s disease, reactive arthritis and systemic hypertension. Additionally, aortic insufficiency has been linked to the use of some medications and other potential causes that affect the valve directly including Marfan’s syndrome, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In acute cases of aortic insufficiency, the main causes are infective endocarditis, aortic dissection or trauma. Dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with the development of mitral regurgitation, not aortic regurgitation
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 20
Correct
-
Which of the following cells will degranulate and release histamine when binding to IgE?
Your Answer: Basophils
Explanation:Basophils have protein receptors on their cell surface that bind IgE, an immunoglobulin involved in microparasite defence and allergy. When activated, basophils degranulate to release histamine, proteoglycans (e.g. heparin and chondroitin), and proteolytic enzymes (e.g. elastase and lysophospholipase).
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
-
-
Question 21
Incorrect
-
Which one of the following skin disorders is least commonly associated with hypothyroidism?
Your Answer: Eczema
Correct Answer: Pretibial myxoedema
Explanation:Pretibial myxoedema is an infiltrative dermopathy, resulting as a rare complication of Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) and very occasionally occurs in non-thyrotoxic Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Hypothyroidism typically presents with symptoms such as dry skin, brittle hair, and thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. While skin conditions like dryness and hair changes are common in hypothyroidism due to reduced metabolic activity, acne is also not typically associated with it.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
-
-
Question 22
Incorrect
-
A 47-year-old woman diagnosed with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer three months ago was started on treatment with tamoxifen. Which of the following is most likely a complaint of this patient during her review today?
Your Answer: Cataracts
Correct Answer: Hot flushes
Explanation:The most likely complaint of this patient would be hot flushes.
Alopecia and cataracts are listed as possible side-effects, however they are not as prevalent as hot flushes, which are very common in pre-menopausal women.
Tamoxifen is a Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) which acts as an oestrogen receptor antagonist and partial agonist. It is used in the management of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
Adverse effects:
- Menstrual disturbance: vaginal bleeding, amenorrhoea
- Hot flushes – 3% of patients stop taking tamoxifen due to climacteric side-effects.
- Venous thromboembolism.
- Endometrial cancer (although antagonistic with respects to breast tissue, tamoxifen may serve as an agonist at other sites. Therefore the risk of endometrial cancer is increased). Raloxifene is a pure oestrogen receptor antagonist and carries a lower risk of endometrial cancer.
Tamoxifen is typically used for 5 years following the removal of the tumour.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
-
-
Question 23
Incorrect
-
During which stage does the mitotic apparatus dissolute?
Your Answer: Metaphase
Correct Answer: Telophase
Explanation:In telophase the nuclear envelope along with the nucleolus will reappear. The daughter nuclei will enlarge as the chromosome will decondense again. Along with this, cytokinesis will occur. At the end of cytokinesis the daughter centrioles will move from the poles to the intercellular bridge where they will be disassembled and complete the separation of the daughter cells
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Genetics
- Medicine
-
-
Question 24
Correct
-
There will be a proportion of people in a population who have the given condition, disease or attribute at a specified point in time or over a specified period of time. Which of following is the best term which can describe the above?
Your Answer: Prevalence
Explanation:Prevalence refers to the total number of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a specific point in time or over a specified period. It provides a measure of how widespread the disease or condition is within the population.
Specificity and sensitivity are terms used to describe the accuracy of diagnostic tests.
Probability refers to the likelihood of an event occurring.
Incidence is a measure of how commonly or frequently a disease occurs in a specified population over a period by providing a quick measurement of new disease diagnoses.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Research Skills
-
-
Question 25
Incorrect
-
A 74-year-old man who has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and heart failure is being started on digoxin. What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?
Your Answer: Inhibits the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
Correct Answer:
Explanation:Digoxin works by inhibiting the Na+/K+ ATPase pump in cardiac myocytes. Here’s how it works:
- Inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase: Digoxin binds to and inhibits the Na+/K+ ATPase pump, which is responsible for pumping sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell.
- Increased intracellular sodium: Inhibition of this pump leads to an increase in intracellular sodium levels.
- Decreased activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger: The increased intracellular sodium reduces the activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger, which normally pumps calcium out of the cell in exchange for sodium.
- Increased intracellular calcium: As a result, intracellular calcium levels rise because less calcium is being extruded from the cell. The increased calcium is then stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
- Enhanced contractility: During each action potential, more calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytoplasm, which enhances the contractility of the heart muscle (positive inotropic effect).
By increasing the force of contraction, digoxin helps improve cardiac output in patients with heart failure. Additionally, digoxin has vagomimetic effects, which can help control the heart rate in atrial fibrillation by increasing vagal tone and thereby reducing the conduction velocity through the atrioventricular node.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
-
-
Question 26
Incorrect
-
The nucleus ambiguus:
Your Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer: Regulates swallowing, phonation and parasympathetic supply to the heart via CN IX, X and XI
Explanation:Nucleus Ambiguus is a group of large motor neurons found deep in the medullary reticular formation. It contains cell bodies of nerves that are responsible for the innervation of muscles of speech and swallowing which are located in the soft palate, pharynx and larynx. Additionally, it contains cholinergic preganglionic parasympathetic neurons of the heart via CN X, IX and XI
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
-
-
Question 27
Correct
-
A 50-year-old male was brought to the ER after the accidental consumption of 300 ml of diethylene glycol. Blood investigations were suggestive of metabolic acidosis and renal failure. What is the appropriate management in this patient?
Your Answer: Haemodialysis and oral ethanol
Explanation:Among the given options the most appropriate management in this patient would be ethanol and haemodialysis.Ethanol competes with ethylene glycol for alcohol dehydrogenase and thus, helps manage a patient with ethylene glycol toxicity.Ethylene glycol is a type of alcohol used as a coolant or antifreezeFeatures of toxicity are divided into 3 stages:Stage 1: (30 min to 12 hours after exposure) Symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication: confusion, slurred speech, dizziness (CNS depression)Stage 2: (12 – 48 hours after exposure) Metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap and high osmolar gap. Also tachycardia, hypertensionStage 3: (24 – 72 hours after exposure) Acute renal failureManagement has changed in recent times:Fomepizole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, is now used first-line in preference to ethanol.Ethanol has been used for many years works by competing with ethylene glycol for the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase this limits the formation of toxic metabolites (e.g. glycolaldehyde and glycolic acid) which are responsible for the hemodynamic/metabolic features of poisoning.Haemodialysis has a role in refractory cases.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
-
-
Question 28
Incorrect
-
Regarding cardiac contractility, catecholamines exert their inotropic effect via:
Your Answer: Β2-adrenergic receptors and gs
Correct Answer: Β1-adrenergic receptors and gs
Explanation:Catecholamines exert their inotropic effect on the heart via the B1 adrenergic receptors and Gs, stimulating adenyl cyclase and increasing the production of cAMP.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
-
-
Question 29
Correct
-
Regarding CSF:
Your Answer: Disruption of arachnoid villi function results in a communicating hydrocephalus
Explanation:In normal adults CSF volume is around 125ml to 150ml. Turnover of the entire volume of cerebrospinal fluid is about 3 to 4 times a day. Composition of CSF is similar to that of plasma except that CSF is nearly protein-free compared with plasma and has different electrolyte levels. Blockage of the foramina causes an obstructive or non-communicating hydrocephalus. Communicating hydrocephalus or non-obstructive hydrocephalus is caused by impaired CSF reabsorption in the absence of any CSF flow obstruction.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
-
-
Question 30
Incorrect
-
Oxygen enters blood from the alveoli by:
Your Answer: none of the options are correct
Correct Answer: Passive diffusion
Explanation:Oxygen enters blood from the alveoli by simple diffusion along a concentration gradient. Concentration of oxygen and the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli are higher than the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood. So, oxygen moves from alveoli into blood via simple diffusion according to the concentration gradient.
-
This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Respiratory
-
SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
